Preparing for the New Hampshire Film Festival is a year-round endeavor. Entering its seventh year, the 2007 festival received more than 500 submissions from 21 different countries, more than doubling the figure from 2006. Those 500-plus submissions were pared down to approximately 60 films by a screening committee that reviewed, rated and voted on every one of them. The films that made the cut will be screened in Portsmouth at four different venues over the course of four days, beginning Thursday, Oct. 11.

“It takes all year long for four days of a film festival,” said festival director Nicole Gregg. “There are 365 days in a year. It takes 361 days to prepare for the other four days.”

Gregg has been at the festival’s helm since it moved to Portsmouth last year, but was also involved in previous festivals in various capacities. She has seen the scope of the festival, which was previously known as the New Hampshire Film Expo, increase dramatically since its 2001 inception, growing from a relatively small, regional event to an international attraction. As the quality of the films has risen, so, too, has the festival’s reputation, garnering interest from a rapidly swelling pool of talent.

“I think that we’re building off of the program that we’ve had in past years,” Gregg said. “Last year, we attracted a higher quality of films, so then we built off that.”

In 2006, festival organizers partnered with www.withoutabox.com, a Web site that offers application submission services for film festivals. The site has members around the world, resulting in submissions from places like Iceland, Latvia, Israel, Malaysia, Iran, Mongolia, New Zealand, Romania and Nigeria.

“Last year, we saw a pretty big increase in diversity of where the films were being submitted from,” Gregg said. “Prior to last year, it was very much a domestic film festival. Last year, we really put ourselves on the international circuit, as well.”
But Granite State filmmakers still have a strong presence in the festival. A total of 87 submissions came from New England this year, 27 of which hailed from New Hampshire. While Gregg is interested in attracting filmmakers from all over the world, she emphasizes her commitment to exposing local talent.

“We definitely want this to be an inclusive event of New Hampshire films,” she said, noting that the festival gives area filmmakers a chance to connect with industry professionals from film hubs like New York and Los Angeles. “It’s important for us to include the local talent and showcase them to the industry.”

While films are screened from Thursday to Sunday at The Music Hall, Muddy River Smokehouse, Portsmouth Public Library and the Sheraton Harborside Hotel, workshops, discussion panels and other special events will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn. Filmmakers will be on hand at most of the screenings to answer questions before and after each film, giving guests a personal view into the filmmaking process.

The festival also features three after parties, located at Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Café on Thursday night; at Bourbon’s, downstairs from Muddy River, on Friday night; and at Pesce Blue on Saturday night. Directors and cast members will be in attendance at all three parties to mingle with viewers. After parties begin at 9:30 p.m.

Film categories include full-length features, documentaries, short dramas, short comedies, animated films and student films. Juries will select winners for a number of awards, including New Hampshire Filmmaker of the Year, which is new to this year’s festival. The award ceremony for filmmaker of the year will be held on Thursday night at Jumpin’ Jay’s, while other “Granny Awards” will be distributed during closing ceremonies at the Sheraton on Sunday night.

The last few weeks have been filled with film events on the Seacoast. Telluride by the Sea featured the screening of six highly anticipated films at The Music Hall in Portsmouth on the weekend of Sept. 21, and the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival arrived the following weekend, Sept. 28. But the NHFF is unique, screening a vast collection of independent films that embrace a number of styles.

“What sets us apart is that we look for some of the best independent films in all genres—documentaries, short films, features, student work—most of which will not be getting a mass theatrical distribution deal, but are, nonetheless, just as incredible works of art,” Gregg said.

To purchase tickets or get more information about the N.H. Film Festival, visit www.nhfilmfestival.com. You can also order tickets by visiting The Music Hall box office or calling 603-436-2400. Cash purchases can be made at each venue during the festival. The festival headquarters will be located at the Connie Bean Center.